Luggage carrier



Feb. 8, 1944. M. l. RovlcK LUGGAGE CARRIER Filed Aug. 6, 1943 rows; and

Patented Feb. 8, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LUGGAGE CARRIER Max I. ltovick, Chicago, Ill.

Application August 6, 1943, Serial No. 497,700

8 Claims.

This invention relates to luggage carriers in the form of hand bags or the like.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide an improved portable hand bag which is in outward appearance very nearly like thatv of an ordinary hand bag and which can be opened very widely to facilitate insertion of a large article, such as, for instance, a bowling ball, into the bag and which will not require the use of both hands to hold the bag open. Ordinary small luggage bags are generally used for carrying bowling balls. When it is desired to insert the ball into the bag it is necessary to open the bag rather wide. Since the ball is being held in one hand it is dilicult to hold. the bag fully openV with the one remaining hand. Thus there is considerable difficulty and inconvenience in placing a bowling ball into an ordinary sized bowling ball bag. It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide a bag which when closed is s no larger than an ordinary bowling ball bag and when opened will remain open while unheld, and with a suicient width of opening to permit insertion of a bowling ball into the bag.

Itis a further object of the present invention to provide a bag having improved means for locking the same. The locking means, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, engages at the opposite sides of the bag and at the center of the bag opening. The lockingmeans may con.- sist of snap locks at the sides of the bag with a snap fastener at the top center, or it may consist of two similar U-shaped brackets which are separable and of which one is provided with openings for receiving the end of the other, and a centralsnap fastener for holding the brackets together.

'I'he attainment of the above and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following specification taken in conjunction With the accompanying drawingforming a part thereof.

In the drawing:

Figures 1 and 2 are end views of a bag embodying the present invention, showing the bag in the closed and the open positions, respectively;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the line 3 3 of Figure 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 4 is a top View of one of the bag of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a View taken along the line 5-5 of Figure 3 and looking in the direction of thearthe clips of CII Figure 6 is a viewsimilar to Figure 1 and illustrating a modified construction. A

The bag I of Figure 1 comprises two similar end pieces 2 joined by two similar side pieces 3 and a bottom 4, as is usual in bag construction. A strip 5, which is stitched to one of the end pieces 2 by a line of stitching at 6, extends across and forms half of the top of the bag and is stitched by a similar line of stitching to the end piece 2 on the opposite end of the bag. It is also stitched by a line of stitching at 'I to the side piece 3. At its opposite end it is folded around and forms a sheath for a substantially U-shaped spring metal brace 8. To each end of the brace identical clips I8 and II are secured in any desired manner, as by rivets I 2. Each clip extends outwardly from the brace 8, and has a slot I4 formed therein of a width slightly greater than the Iwidth of the brace 8. The side piece 2 eX- tends above the line of stitching 6, as indicated at I6, until it terminates at a top piece I'I, of a shape similar to that of the top piece 5, said, top piece II being sewed, to each of the side pieces 2 by lines of stitching at I8, thus leaving a side flap I8 between the top piece II and the end of the top portion. 5 when the bag is open. The side piece 2 is also stitched to the adjacent end piece 3 by a line of stitching at 2l) which is a continuation of the line of stitching at 1. 'I'he top piece I1 is also stitched to the adjacent side piece 3 by a line of stitching similar to that illustrated at` 'I in Figure 2 for the opposite top portion 5.

l The end of the top piece I1 encases and forms a sheath for a U-shaped spring metal brace 22 of a shape substantially similar to that of the brace 8 but slightly longer than-the brace 8. Two mating parts of a pair of snap spring type of fastening clips, indicated at- 25 andv 26 respectively, are provided on the braces 8 and 22 respectively.

To close the bag the top portion I'I is swung towards the top portion 5 until the brace 22 overlies and is adjacent to the brace 8. At this time the ends 29 of the brace 22 are inserted into the slots I4 in thev clips Il] and Il, and the snap fastener 26 is snapped onto its mating fastener part 25 to hold the braces 2-2 and 8` from separating from one another at their center. The bag is thus held closed. When it is desired to open the bag it is merely necessary to pull upwardly at the center of the top of the brace 22 at the same time pushing downwardly at the center of the top of the brace 8l to cause the snap fasteners 25-26 to separate. This permits raising of the brace 22 to clear the ends 29 thereof from the surface of the strip slots I4 of the clips Il) and Il, which then permits opening of the bag. To facilitate these operations the brace 22 is provided with a short narrow strap 3l at the center thereof for facilitating pulling upwardly on the brace 22 while at the same time pushing downwardly on the brace 8 or the top portion 5. A pair of usual handles 32-33 are provided for facilitating carrying of the bag.

It is to be noted that when the bag is closed the portion i9 of the side pieces 2 are folded to prevent the entry of moisture into the bag by way of the sides between the edges thereof at 8 and 22.

In Figure 6 I have shown a bag substantially similar to that of Figure 1, differing therefrom essentially in that the metal braces 8 and 22 have been entirely omitted. In lieu thereof there is provided at each end of the bag a set ofvcooperating spring type snap fasteners dll-4I of which the fastener 4| snaps onto the fastener 4D, and a similar set onthe opposite end of the bag are 'also snapped together to hold the bag closed at its sides.

The fastener 40 is on the outer surface of the strip 5, and the fastener 4I is on the inner I1. The snap fasteners 25-26 are provided in the same manner as in the bag of Figure 1 except that they are secured to the folded edge of the bag material rather than to the braces 8 and 22. The bag is provided with short aps or ribbons 43 at each corner of the opening thereof to facilitate unsnapping of the fastener 4I from the fastener 40.

It is to be noted that in the embodiments illustrated in Figures 2 and 6 the bag is shown vin its open position. When it is in that position the bag opening is quite wide and tends to remain open, thereby facilitating insertion of a large object such as, for instance, a bowling ball, into the bag. During the insertion operation the bag does not have to be held open manually.

After the bowling ball or similar article has been inserted in place there is still sufficient e room above or to the sides of the ball for carrying additional equipment, such as shoes or the like. To facilitate holding the ball in a fixed position inthe base of the carrier there is provided a usual circular block 50 having a ball-receiving depression 5l therein for holding the ball against rolling along the bottom of the bag. The block 50 may be removably held in place on the bottom 4 of the bag by a snap type fastener such as the fastener 25-26, of which one element is permanently secured to the bottom 4 of the bag on the inside thereof and the other is secured to the bottom of the block 50.

In compliance with the requirements of the patent statutes I have here shown and described a few preferred embodiments of my invention. It

is, however, to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise constructions here shown, the same being merely illustrative of the principles of the invention. What I consider new i and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A luggage case comprising two similar end pieces joined by two similar side pieces, when l the case is closed the side pieces extending a substantial distance above the end pieces, members between the side pieces and the top of the end pieces, said members being stitched to the respective side pieces and extending from their respective side pieces to a meeting position approximately midway betweenthe side pieces, one

. ofthe members being secured to the end piece by a line of stitching extending along its edge and through the end piece, the end piece extending above said line of stitching and forming a foldable flap and secured at its extended portion to the other member.

2. A luggage case comprising two similar end pieces joined by two similar side pieces, when the case is closed the side pieces extending a substantial distance above the end pieces, members 10 between the side pieces and the top of the end pieces, said members being stitched to the respective side pieces and extending from their respective side pieces to a meeting position approximately midway between the side pieces, one

of the members being secured to the end piece by a line of stitching extending along its edge and through the end piece, the end piece extending above said line of stitching and forming a foldable flap and secured at its extended portion 2o to the other member, and means for releasably securing adjacent corners of the members, said means being releasable to permit opening ofy the case and separation of the members.

3. A luggage case comprising two similar end pieces joined by two similar side pieces, when the case is closed .the side pieces extending a substantial distance above the end pieces, members between the side pieces and the top of the end pieces, said members being stitched to the respective side pieces and extending from their respective side pieces to a meeting position approximately midway between the side pieces, one of the members being secured to the end piece by a line of stitching extending along its edge and through the end piece, the end piece extending above said line of stitching and forming a foldable flap and secured at its extended portion to the other member, means for releasably securing adjacent corners of the members, said means being releasable to permit opening of the case and separation of the members, and means for releasably securing the side pieces together to hold the case in its closed position.

4. A luggage case having two similar end pieces joined by two similar side pieces, two similar Astrips each of which comprises a top and upper end piece, each of which strips is secured to a side piece and to both end pieces, each of said strips extending from one side piece approximately half way towards the other side piece when in their case closed position, one of said strips being secured to the end piece by a line of stitching extending through the edge of the strip and through the end piece, the end piece extending above said line of stitching and being secured at its extended portion to the other strip, whereby the extended portion forms a side flap, a pair of U-shaped brace members secured to the respective strips and each extending across the top of the case from one end piece tothe other end piece, and means securedto'the ends of one of the braces for releasably holdingY the ends of the other brace.

5. A luggage case having twosimilarend pieces joined by two similar side pieces, two.. similar strips each of which comprises a top and upper end piece, each of which strips is securedto 'a' secured at its extended portion to the other strip, whereby the extended portion forms a side flap, a pair of U-shaped brace members secured to the respective strips and each extending across the top of the case from one end piece to the other end piece, each of said strips extending around and forming a sheath for the associated brace member, and means secured to the ends of one of the braces for releasably holding the ends of the other brace.

6. A luggage case having two similar end pieces joined by two similar side pieces, two similar strips each of which comprises a top and upper end piece, each of which strips is secured to a side piece and to both end pieces, each of said strips extending from one side piece approximately half Way towards the other side piece when in their case closed position, one of said strips being secured to the end piece by a line of stitching extending through the edge of the strip and through the end piece, the end piece extending above said line oi stitching and being secured at its extended portion to the other strip,

` whereby the extended portion forms a side flap.

7. A luggage case having two similar end pieces joined by two similar side pieces, two similar strips each of which comprises a top and upper end piece, each of which strips is secured to a side piece and to both end pieces, each of said strips extending from one side piece approximately half way towards the other side piece when in their case closed position, one of said stripsV being secured to the end piece by a line of stitching extending through the edge of the strip and through the end piece, the end piece extending above said line of stitching and being secured at its extended portion to the other strip, whereby the extended portion forms a side flap, and means for releasably securing adjacent corners of said strips together at the end pieces.

8. A luggage case having two similar end pieces joined by two similar side pieces, two similar strips each of which comprises a top and upper end piece, each of which strips is secured to a side piece and to both end pieces, each of said strips extending from one side piece approximately half way towards the other side piece when in their case closed position, one of said strips being secured to the end piece by a line of stitching extending through the edge of the strip and through the end piece, the end piece extending above said line of stitching and being secured at its extended portion to the other strip, whereby the extended portion forms a side flap,

and means for releasably securing adjacent corners of said strips together at the end pieces, said means comprising cooperating snap fasteners at adjacent corners of the strips.

MAX I. ROVICK. 

